The new measures will come into effect on September 1, 2015, will run through April 30, 2016, and will be applicable to cargo ex U.S. East, West, and Gulf coasts for both full container loads and less than container loads

The “Notice to Industry” issued by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, will be a useful and important guideline to clients in the import and shipping industry, including importers and customs brokers associated with the importation of targeted break bulk and some containerized vehicles (including boats), and machinery shipped from the United States.

The proposal reinstates mandatory treatment requirements prior to the shipment of goods with revised treatment conditions, reduces the range of targeted cargo and includes different cut-off dates depending on the date of manufacture for new goods. The treatment conditions and season dates are based on new data that has become available and, at this point, are fixed to align where possible with New Zealand, .

Similar to last season, new and used vehicles, vessels and machinery are the target cargo. Currently the targeted commodities are Chapters 84,87 & 89 in the Harmonized Tariff listing. The new proposals are:

From 1 September 2015 all used goods in the target tariffs would need to be cleaned and treated for potential stink bug infestations immediately prior to shipping on or before 30 April 2016. This would apply to break bulk and FCL containerized goods.

All new goods in the harmonised tariff list that manufactured and/or stored between 1 September and 1 December 2015 and then shipped on or before 30 April 2016 as break bulk or FCL would be required to undergo offshore treatment unless subject to alternative safeguarding arrangements approved by the department.

All new goods in the target tariffs manufactured after 1 December 2015 and shipped as break bulk or FCLs on or before 30 April 2016 would require a consignment specific manufacturer’s new, unused and not field tested (NUFT) declaration which includes the date and place of manufacture.

New data on treatments is also become available. There are 3 treatments that are approved by Australian Quarantine – Sulfuryl Fluoride, Methyl Bromide and Heat Treatment.

For more details please see the “Notice to Industry” issued by Australia’s Department of Agriculture.